Several South African soldiers who were sent by the South African government to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of an ill-equipped and ill-prepared force surrendered to M23 rebels last week. The soldiers are now allegedly being held hostage by M23.

The soldiers are part of a South African National Defense Force (SANDF) deployed to attack M23 rebels specifically in eastern DRC. This follows the withdrawal of an East African Regional Security Force, led by Kenya, which avoided a confrontation with M23.

The M23 was formed after the Rwandan genocide as a local defense force in the east of the DRC to protect the Tutsi communities of the DRC and Rwanda against the continuous attacks of the FDLR, whose only political and military objective is to continue the genocide of the Tutsis.

According to the "National Security News", the group has been operating in the eastern region of the DRC for many years, knows the terrain and is integrated with sectors of the local population. The lessons learned from the SADC/Monusco Force Intervention Brigade and its successor, the East African Regional Peacekeeping Force, show that any new intervention force in the DRC must be of considerable size to succeed in a peacekeeping mission.

From an initial strength of around 19,815 troops, MONUSCO's uniformed personnel has shrunk to around 16,316, including a maximum authorized strength of 14,000 military personnel (including contingent troops, mission experts and staff officers), 660 military observers, 591 police officers and 1,050 personnel from formed police units. These personnel come from more than 50 countries around the world.

Its successor, the East African Regional Security Force, had between 6,500 and 12,000 troops.

Other lessons from the Monusco deployment include the need for extensive air cover, as well as transport and air elements. An intervention force must also have special forces capabilities and mobility in very difficult terrain. Tactical and operational intelligence and sufficient firepower are also needed.

The SANDF only has one operational C-130 aircraft for heavy air transport. It has virtually no air power to use. It only has a few helicopters available for all national and international missions - five Oryx, out of an initial total of 39, and three Rooivalk, out of a total of 11.

However, the SANDF is suffering heavy casualties. So far, the SANDF reported that two of its soldiers had been killed in a mortar attack near the eastern town of Goma. The SANDF said that three more soldiers were wounded in the attack. There are likely to be more casualties every week, and beyond that looms the spectre of a disastrous and costly strategic defeat for the South African forces.

Last week, the crisis surrounding the SANDF deployment in the east of the DRC escalated dramatically. The SANDF suffered further casualties when they attacked M23 formations. During the fighting, several South African soldiers reportedly surrendered to the M23 and were taken prisoner by the M23, along with Malawian soldiers.